As dawn broke, Jaymer woke Kassel. It was not yet sunrise, but there was enough light to ride.
“We can still make it to the Gold Gate before them if we hurry now.”
Kassel, with half-open eyes, washed his face roughly and mounted his horse.
They rode quite a distance before the sun came up. Kassel seemed to be half asleep the whole ride. Jaymer, worried Kassel might fall off, turned back to check on him several times.
As they left the mountains and rough paths behind, they rode freely across the plains. The horses, as if they had been conserving their strength, picked up a good pace. It seemed likely they would reach the Gold Gate that very day until a large river flowing across their path proved otherwise.
The current wasn’t very strong, but the river was wide and deep.
“Would it be too risky to swim across on horseback?”
Kassel asked.
“Can you even call that swimming?”
Jaymer managed to reply with a stiff tone and continued speaking rigidly.
“It seems to be the Molbi River, which I believe flows to the western sea. There’s no ferry crossing marked on the map, so I’m not sure how we should get across.”
“If I remember correctly, there should be a white bridge crossing the river near the Gold Gate. For now, we might as well follow the river.”
Kassel suggested.
They headed westward, following the river. Luckily, before encountering the uncertain bridge, they came across a fisherman casting nets from his boat.
Kassel called out to the fisherman.
“May I ask where this river leads if we follow it?”
“To the Gold Gate.”
The fisherman raised his voice in reply.
“Just by following the river?”
“If you go along, you’ll come across a ferry crossing. It’s better to cross there and take the main road. If you keep following the river, there’s a big mountain in the way that will take a whole day to bypass.”
“Thank you.”
Kassel waved gratefully, and the kind fisherman waved back.
“That’s it, Jaymer. I shall lead the way, so follow me.”
Kassel playfully ordered and led the way.
‘This guy’s starting his thing again.’
Jaymer followed on horseback.
Indeed, as the fisherman had said, they found a ferry crossing not too far away. The ferryman, resting and sitting, stood up and doffed his hat in greeting. With a white beard, the ferryman looked like he had been working on this river for decades.
“Can we cross the river now?”
Kassel inquired.
“Of course. But to transfer two horses at once, we need a large boat, which is available at the eastern ferry.”
“If it’s one at a time, could we use that boat?”
“I’m sorry, but that would cost twice the price, would that be alright?”
“We have enough money.”
“Then let’s do it that way. It’s three silver coins per person with a horse, and since it’s a round trip, you’ll need to pay six.”
“If you hurry, I’ll give you a gold coin from Carnelock.”
Kassel immediately paid the fare. The ferryman did not seem particularly delighted or surprised.
“I’ll go first and signal if it’s safe.”
Jaymer boarded the boat with his horse first. The boat rocked significantly as the heavy horse stepped aboard. The ferryman carefully gripped the oar and warned,
“Please ensure the horse doesn’t get restless. This is heavier than I thought. It’s been a while since I’ve transported a horse.”
Jaymer stroked the horse’s back, calming it.
“He’s a gentle one, so no worries.”
The ferryman steered the boat slowly. The water was clear, but deep enough that the bottom was invisible. After dropping Jaymer off on the other side, the ferryman appeared relieved. Despite his veteran appearance, he seemed unsure about transporting horses safely.
Jaymer scanned the surroundings. No immediate dangers caught his eye, nor could he see any swords in the distance. He signaled to Kassel across the river.
The ferryman went back to pick up Kassel and his horse. Jaymer, hand on hip, hoped the boat wouldn’t capsize as he waited. The boat shook a bit more this time, and the horse seemed startled, but Kassel calmed it quickly and waved back to Jaymer, indicating all was well.
‘If we manage to pass through the Gold Gate without incident and end up sleeping outdoors again, will he really speak to me? I’ll be in a flurry, unable to speak properly again. But that guy seems like he would listen to anything with sparkling eyes. Maybe I can even share the painful stories of the past with him.’
Jay found himself unexpectedly looking forward to the time when they would talk.
“I forgot my resolve again.”
He chuckled to himself without realizing it, muttering only in his mind.
‘It’s getting tiresome to keep resisting. I might as well pretend to be friends, just as he wants. After all, I’m only following along because he wishes it…’
It was when Kassel had crossed about halfway across the river that Jay sensed the spacing of the swords.
Five steps!
Jay immediately scanned the surroundings. The spacing of the swords was approaching from two directions. However, he couldn’t pinpoint exactly which direction they were coming from.
“Boatman, stop the boat!”
Jay shouted loudly. At that moment, someone burst out of the reeds at a considerable distance. And from another reed bed, another person emerged. It was Billy and Suvel.
‘I was careless.’
The distance was too great, and he had not read the spacing of the swords correctly. They had hidden their presence well and waited patiently. With their level of swordsmanship, he should have known it was possible.
‘To think I was waiting for an old story to tell at night when I might die right now, what a fool.’
Jay rebuked himself.
“Jaymer!”
Kassel shouted in alarm. Jay raised his hand.
“I’m fine. Just stay there.”
The two were gradually closing in on Jay, stopping at about five steps to his left and right. Whether by coincidence or not, the spacing of their swords also maintained five steps.
Suvel drew his sword and said,
“If you came from the mountains, I figured you’d have to cross at this ferry. Had we been just half an hour late, we would have been waiting after you had already passed.”
Billy also drew his sword and added,
“Drop your sword, hunter. We do not wish for a pointless fight.”
“Whether it’s pointless or not is not for you to decide.”
Jay too, drew his sword as he spoke.
☆ ☆ ☆
As always, before the fight, Jay took in the environment.
The riverside soil was soggy, making movement sticky, and the surrounding reeds interfered. It wasn’t the best place to utilize all his skills, but Jay was accustomed to fighting in such conditions. If the disadvantageous terrain affected the opponent just as much, it could actually be to his advantage. He remained motionless even as Suvel and Billy closed in from the left and right.
Jay had already somewhat analyzed the swordsmanship of both. Billy’s strikes were powerful but his pattern was simple. He probably enjoyed using his simple patterns in a battle of wits.
Suvel wielded very quick swordplay. On flat ground, it would have been extremely troublesome. But on this muddy terrain, it wasn’t a particularly dangerous factor.
The problem was that this analysis was based on a brief skirmish they had had on a gravel bed. If their display of skill then wasn’t everything they had, things could get complicated.
“Drop the sword. This is your last warning.”
Billy spoke, but Jay did not respond. Once a sword was drawn, Jay disregarded everything his opponent said. He had never bothered with dialogue with an enemy marked for death.
Billy also kept to his word about it being a final warning. With a gesture, he signaled to Suvel and lowered his stance. Jay didn’t bother to look at their positions; he just kept measuring the distance of the swords. They were closing in. Four steps, three steps, two and a half steps, two steps…
One and a half steps!
Suvel’s sword flew towards him. Jay parried the blade and simultaneously blocked Billy’s sword. In an instant, Jay deflected six rapid attacks coming from left and right and immediately lunged towards Billy, swinging his sword with great force.
Billy managed to block Jay’s all-out attack.
Jay didn’t have any techniques held back for critical moments. His defense consisted solely of observing the gaps between the swords and dodging accordingly, and his offense was about thrusting his sword into any opening that appeared.
So if his opponent moved slowly, Jay matched that pace; if they moved quickly, he kept up with their speed. An all-out attack for him was nothing more than a powerful thrust when he saw a complete opening.
And that attack had just been blocked.
‘As expected, he hadn’t shown all his skills in our last fight.’
Jay jumped back, withdrawing to a safe distance, yet the distance between their swords remained one and a half steps.
Standing with one foot dipped in the water’s edge, Jay memorized their positioning. Neither was hasty. He too adjusted his grip on his sword, lowering his stance even further. His feet sank into the muck, but he didn’t care. His opponent was unbothered by such things as well.
Suvel kicked through the water, charging as if running on the surface.
Jay shielded his face from the splashing droplets with his elbow, then met Suvel’s sword. Their bodies spun around on the water, exchanging places in a dance-like motion. Droplets sprang up from the ground and scattered in all directions, riding the arcs of their slashing blades.
Billy, watching their movements, thrust his sword towards Jay’s back. Jay ducked, evading and kicking at Billy’s leg. It wasn’t a heavy hit, but the surprise of the unexpected attack made Billy stagger. Yet, no opportunity to deliver a decisive stab appeared. Moreover, Suvel was already swinging his sword again, leaving no chance for a finishing blow.
With the relentless assault from the two, Jay’s breath began to quicken. Facing two formidable enemies at once, his focus started to waver.
The terrain he had thought advantageous had become a leech, draining his stamina.
Eventually unable to hold out, Jay dashed up the riverbank. Suvel and Billy immediately followed. Both were quite exhausted, but not as much as Jay.
Billy shook his head in disbelief.
“You really are incredible, you know.”
Jay wanted to throw the compliment right back. The odds being 2 against 1 didn’t matter at all. He would have struggled just as much against Billy alone, not to mention Suvel, who was on a similar level!
Jay felt overwhelmed on how to fight.
‘I might die here.’
Jay shouted loudly.
“Kassel!”
“Are you alright, Jaymer?”
Kassel shouted back in response.
“Don’t worry about me. But it looks like it’s going to take some time, so go ahead.”
Before Kassel could say more, Suvel spoke up, looking at Kassel.
“Why not just give up? We won’t kill you then. You can’t escape either, Kassel.”
Jay narrowed the distance between the swords in the brief moment Suvel showed an opening. He wasn’t truly moving in yet. Nonetheless, Suvel sensed something and immediately lowered his stance.
Billy reacted at the same time.
‘They aren’t actually judging the distance between the swords. But they are the sort that could do something quite similar.’
Just then, the sound of water surged from the river. Turning to look, Kassel and his horse were no longer on the ferry. It had been the sound of Kassel, still mounted, leaping off the ferry. The horse, with only its head visible, was earnestly swimming toward the downstream of the river. Kassel too, with only his head above water, kept urging the horse on.
“That bastard, he’s running away again!”
Suvel spat out a curse. But with Jaymer holding his ground, they couldn’t give chase.
A lengthy silence passed between the three. Only the sound of the frightened ferryman hurriedly rowing to turn the boat, the horse swimming by relinquishing itself to the flow of the river, and the sound of someone exiting the water to mount the horse again, continued in the background.
The space between swords fluctuated between a step and a half and a full step. If someone lost that measure even for an instant, another would become vulnerable to attack.
‘Since I started living as a hunter, this might be the first time I’ve felt this tense.’
Jaymer, who had never worried about his back in a fight, slowly began to worry about Kassel. He had always thought it didn’t matter if he died in battle, but the idea that Kassel would be in danger if he died now came to him first.
‘There’s no need to worry. Once he gets going on that horse, these two won’t be able to follow.’
His head thought so, but his heart wouldn’t settle. And as if to scatter his cold rationality, the horse Kassel rode started to come back.
Billy and Suvel, who had already written off Kassel, were perplexed when he turned around to return. As Jaymer stepped back, the gap between the swords naturally collapsed. Billy, surprised by the unexpected turn, didn’t pursue Jaymer.
“Why did you come back?”
Jaymer asked with an angry tone.
Kassel stopped his horse about twenty steps away and said.
“Let’s go together.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Jaymer, if you lose, I would end up leaving you behind. That can’t happen.”
“When did I say I was going to lose?”
“Then win… and let’s go together.”
Jaymer wanted to lash out with a storm of curses at him.
“I can’t fight with ease knowing you’re here!”
“Still, I can’t leave a friend behind.”
At that, Jaymer was left without words.
Billy interjected upon hearing the two of them.
“Captains tends to make sentimental decisions often. Your head might say no, but your heart can’t follow through.”
Jaymer felt a twinge of guilt as if the words were meant for him. Kassel was standing far away, simply watching Jaymer.
‘Since he’s on a horse, even if I lose, he can run away on his own.’
Jaymer scratched his head.
“You really are a piece of work.”
Kassel had demonstrated two contradictory aspects in the brief moment he had been observed. When held by Billy, he looked at everything with cold rationality and acted calmly. But when he was with Jaymer during the night, he acted as comfortably as a younger brother would. It was a sentiment akin to ‘Big bro, I’m going to sleep, please watch over me.’ He guessed that would be the feeling if he had a younger brother.
After buying him time to escape, Kassel had brazenly returned and was now requesting to go together. Kassel wasn’t making this decision as Captain Wolf but as a friend. That was the only conclusion Jaymer could draw. If Kassel had thought of Jaymer as a subordinate, he would have accepted his sacrifice at the Red Gate, as he had done before. However, Kassel regarded Jaymer not as a subordinate but as a friend.
That seemed to be the sentimental judgment Billy was talking about.
“Shall I have a go then, to make it back together?”
Jaymer took a deep breath and drew his sword.
Billy too, after regulating his breath, spoke.
“Now that the excuse to catch those who flee has disappeared, there’s no need to hurry the fight. Suvel, won’t you leave this one to me?”
Suvel shrugged his shoulders.
“It is my prey… but it can’t be helped.”
Seeing how easily Billy gave up the advantageous two against one situation, he suspected it was a trick. But the distance between Suvel’s sword had indeed vanished. Only three steps remained between Billy and him.
“Do you think you can take me down on your own after failing together?”
Jay said. Billy sheathed the sword he held and drew another one. It looked ornate, like a ceremonial sword.
“I guess it’s time to properly test this sword in real combat.”
Jay scoffed at Billy’s words.
“With that kind of sword encrusted with jewels?”
Jay deliberately positioned himself with Suvel to his back. Suvel stepped back a few more paces and crossed his arms. He didn’t seem to have any intention of attacking from behind.
‘It’s real.’
“A fight should be done with the weapon one is most accustomed to. In that sense, this sword is more familiar to me.”
Billy smoothly spun the sword in his hand as he spoke.
“I’ve always practiced with this sword in anticipation of fighting a Wolf Knight. It’s so excessively fine that I worry it might actually diminish my skills. That’s why I’ve saved it. Speaking of familiarity and all, how long have you been using your sword?”
Jay flashed a glimpse of his blunted blade.
“Six months.”
“See? Can you be so sure that a weapon you’ve only used for half a year suits you? I’ve wielded this sword for at least two years.”
Billy took a lower stance. The distance between their swords swiftly shortened to a step and a half.
Jay momentarily envisioned his defeat. He never thought he was outmatched in skill. Yet, those two had something he lacked.
For eight years, he had never lost against those considered strong. He had hunted one by one upon waking up and had caused bloodbaths, massacring groups more than once. Yet, Jay felt his inadequacy against these two.
It was the number of real battles they had risked their lives in.
Jay had never come close to death before. Perhaps this was his first genuine life-risking duel. Having never fought at such a level, Jay suddenly felt his body stiffen.
“Drop any thoughts of making excuses later and do your best, hunter. This is my best.”
The next moment, the distance between their swords closed to a single step. Jay didn’t hesitate and swung his blade. Their swords clashed and both men stepped back.
There was no change in distance and Billy’s initial stance remained unchanged. Jay prodded with his sword as a feint, but Billy simply twisted his wrist slightly to block it. Next, he swung his sword left and right. Billy parried every attack and returned to his starting position.
The sound from the last clashing of swords was off. Jay only moved his eyes to inspect his blade. There was a crack about midway through. It was an old sword but expensive, so it was quite durable. However, it seemed it was no match for Billy’s blade.
‘Six months is too much for this sword. If I don’t finish this quickly, I’ll lose.’
Jay envisioned every attack and defense, counter and retreat that could come from Billy’s stance. In his mind’s eye, he saw one beast of prey circling around to hunt another.
Go for the neck. He blocks. He counterattacks. I dodge. Anticipate that and turn the blade. Then his side will be exposed.
Jay charged just as he had visualized the movements in his mind. Billy parried the anticipated direction of Jay’s sword. Then, immediately, he counterattacked, aiming for Jay’s neck. Jay barely dodged by twisting his body, and Billy, having anticipated this, redirected his blade toward Jay’s chest.
It went according to plan. Jay twisted his chest to dodge Billy’s blade and struck at his waist. However, Billy was quicker than Jay had calculated and grabbed Jay’s collar with his other hand. Reflexively, Jay grabbed Billy’s wrist. They spun around, gripping each other.
They remained locked in position, motionless. With their swords subdued, Billy suddenly let go of his sword and, still holding Jay’s collar, threw him to the ground. Caught off guard, Jay couldn’t resist properly and was thrown down hard.
Billy immediately picked up his fallen sword and rushed at Jay, who was now on the ground. Jay, sitting up, thrust out his sword. Billy, gripping his sword with both hands, pulled with all his might to the left. A loud metallic sound rang out as Jay’s sword snapped.
‘He was aiming for this from the start.’
Before the broken blade could even hit the ground, Billy thrust his raised sword downward. There was no hesitation in his attack. The distance of the swords closed, finally within a step’s reach of Jay.
The sword’s tip pierced precisely toward the chest. Jay, almost unconsciously, deflected Billy’s thrust with the broken sword. Billy’s sword struck not Jay’s heart but his shoulder.
Billy quickly tried to pull his sword back. However, Jay, wearing a leather glove, caught the short sword. The moment Billy exerted force to pull his sword free, Jay threw the broken sword at Billy’s face. Even at such a close range, Billy dodged it.
‘He dodged that? What kind of man is he?’
With the blade still embedded in his shoulder, Jay pushed his body up. An excruciating pain that felt like it could knock him unconscious shot through his body as the tip touched the bone. But Jay didn’t stop; he reached out and grabbed another sword that Billy wore.
It was a brief encounter with their bodies almost pressed against each other. Billy withdrew the sword from Jay’s shoulder. The leather glove Jay had been holding was sliced smoothly off. Billy’s freed sword flew towards Jay’s neck, while Jay simultaneously pulled out the sword he had seized and stabbed it in. Neither could tell whose attack landed first. However, Billy’s swing only grazed Jay’s cheek, while Jay’s thrust had penetrated Billy’s stomach.
Billy dropped to his knees.
Jay pulled out the sword and stepped back.
“Billy!”
Suvel shouted as he ran over. Billy, clutching his stomach, bowed his head.
Jay, staggering, stood up and picked up the bloodied sword. Suvel pressed his hand against Billy’s wound and glared at Jay.
“Next… will you attack?”
Jay said weakly.
“No. Leave.”
The distance Suvel showed with his sword was two steps. But he didn’t draw it. Jay understood the meaning behind Suvel’s ‘Leave.’ and nodded. Then he walked towards where Kassel was.
“Hunter.”
Billy spoke. Jay turned to see him slightly lifting his head, blood pouring from his stomach onto the ground. Yet, the man did not groan. His face had already turned pale and white.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t formally introduced myself. I am Billy Mathel.”
“Jaymer.”
“It was a fine match, Jaymer. But you can’t escape us. Give up.”
“I don’t do matches. It might have been a match for you, but not for me. I won’t give up.”
Jay replied.
Suvel growled at him with a glare.
“Remember, Jaymer. I will be the one to break you later.”
“It doesn’t have to be later.”
Suvel did not respond. He could only distort his pretty face as much as possible to send Jay on his way.
Kassel was waiting for Jay with a worried look on his face.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Jay gave up looking for his horse that had gone missing. After all, he didn’t have the energy to ride now.
“I’ll have to ride behind you.”
“Okay.”
Kassel reached out his hand. Jay grabbed it without a thought. The moment he did, a searing pain as if hot iron had touched him pierced his shoulder. Jay clenched his teeth and made no sound.
‘I can’t make a sound if that guy didn’t even moan with such a wound.’
Jay climbed onto Kassel’s back with as much composure as he could muster.
“Just hang on. The Gold Gate isn’t far now.”
Kassel encouraged him as he drove the horse forward. However, Jay couldn’t say a word. With every jostle of the horse, the pain pricked at his shoulder. The blood dripping from his cheek fell onto Kassel’s back. It was the first time in recent years he felt so exhausted after a fight.
☆ ☆ ☆
“We need to stop the horse for a moment.”
Kassel said.
“Just keep going. They will be after us.”
Jay looked back. At the end of the wide road’s horizon, no one was in sight. Probably Suvel wouldn’t come because he was treating Billy’s wounds. But Billy’s words about not being able to escape even with a stabbed belly nagged at him.
“We’re not safe yet.”
“There will be time to look at your wounds.”
Kassel stopped the horse and got down. Jay got down reluctantly as well. The flowing blood had soaked his shoulder and one side of his chest.
“Good Lord.”
Kassel pulled out a handkerchief to cover the stab wound. Jay snatched the handkerchief and applied pressure himself.
“Don’t make a fuss. I won’t die from this.”
“Still, you shouldn’t move. If you get hurt there, you’ll suffer for life. There’s someone in the village who was cut in the knee with a knife and still limps even after turning sixty.”
“Is that supposed to be comforting?”
“It’s a curse! Do you know how worried I was? When your sword broke, I thought you were defeated.”
Kassel expressed his relief with his whole body.
“To be honest, I thought I was dead too.”
Kassel went down to the river flowing by the road, soaked the handkerchief, and came back. Jay took it and wiped his face. The handkerchief felt as cold as ice. He wished he could see a mirror to know how messed up his face looked now.
Jay took the water pouch Kassel offered and drank, looking at his face for a moment. He hadn’t realized how reassuring it felt to have someone take care of him after a fight.
“What is it?”
Kassel, thinking something was on his face, touched his cheek and asked.
“Could it be…”
Jay half-opened his mouth, then closed it.
“It’s nothing.”
“Did you stop talking just to torment me?”
Kassel grumbled as he snatched back the handkerchief Jay was holding to his shoulder. As he tied the handkerchief tight enough to stop the bleeding, Kassel spoke.
“It’s times like these I feel it acutely.”
“What?”
“That I’m not cut out to be captain. I don’t have great sword skills like you, I don’t have the charisma to overpower people like Black, nor do I have Billy’s bold and cold judgment. How can I be a captain if all I can do is wipe blood for a friend who’s bleeding for me?”
Jay felt an inexplicable urge to pat Kassel on the head, to offer some comfort. But no encouraging words came to mind, and there was nothing he could do. So, all Jay could do was to push Kassel away.
“It’s enough. Let’s go.”
Jay mounted his horse first. Kassel followed, grabbing the reins before him.
Kassel did not drive the horse too hard, considering Jay. Still, every time the horse shook, Jay’s head spun, and his wounds ached. Holding onto Kassel’s coat just enough not to fall off was the best he could manage for now.
The bridge crossing the river came into view, and beyond it, a grand structure was visible. Even just by its glinting silhouette bathed in sunlight, it was undoubtedly a castle wall. Even at a trot, they would arrive in at most ten minutes.
The great Molbi River cut across the main road and flowed northward. Atop the river, a bridge shone white with light. The bridge, laid across this broad river that otherwise would require a ferry, was a construction unseen in other lands. As they crossed, Jay inadvertently looked up. Arches like high-reaching rainbows reflected the sunlight, bathing them in whiteness.
‘Master wanted to show me the splendid scenery of Aranthia—not just the natural landscape, it seems.’
Remembering Master’s smiling face made an involuntary smile appear on Jay’s own.
Kassel’s horse came to a halt. Jay, feeling dizzy, closed and then opened his eyes.
“Why have we stopped?”
Kassel’s shoulders were trembling. Jay looked over them to see ahead. A Black Knight was standing guard at the other end of the bridge. Upon spotting Kassel and Jay, he stepped forward slightly.
“We should retreat.”
As Kassel pulled on the reins, the Black Knight raised his halberd. Jay immediately grabbed Kassel’s shoulder.
“Don’t. Stay still.”
“Why?”
“From this distance, that guy could hit us with his halberd if he threw it. It’s happened before. And right now, I’m not confident I could block it.”
Jay remembered hunting Billy’s men in the grasslands.
Then, too, the Black had thrown a massive hunk of iron accurately at a swiftly moving Jay. To the Black, a stationary horse was no more challenging than a target board.
Of course, the Black could make such an attack even now. But for some reason, he had not. Because the halberd might bounce off and fall into the water? Or maybe…
Jay leapt down from Kassel’s horse.
“I’ll hold him off. You back away.”
“That’s not an option…”
“Just do as I say this time!”
Jay turned to Kassel with a smile. Seeing Kassel’s perplexed expression, Jay asked,
“What are you staring at?”
“It’s the first time I’ve seen you smile.”
Jay smirked once more.
“Just do as I say this time. It’s a friend’s request. Back away to a nearby village. Find another way. Once you get to Nadium, tell Master Irine about me. That I couldn’t keep my promise.”
After speaking, Jay regretted it again.
‘This is why I end up telling him everything whenever we talk.’
His shoulder hurt. Probably, this arm wouldn’t even move properly. In this condition, he didn’t hope to come out unharmed against an opponent he might not defeat, even if he were at his best.
Blood from the wet handkerchief Kassel had given him dripped down to his feet.
‘Damn it, just when I finally made a friend and was happy about it…’
Trying not to succumb to gloom, the thought suddenly made tears seem imminent. Tears he hadn’t shed even when his mother passed away—he couldn’t let them show twice in such a short span. So, he held them back out of sheer stubbornness.
For eight years, he never thought he’d meet a dramatic end. He imagined dying suddenly in an accident or being poisoned by someone with a grudge… In either case, he didn’t think he would die being conscious of his own demise. Compared to those, this wasn’t such a bad way to go out.
“Kassel.”
Jay said, looking back at Kassel who was still hesitating to leave.
“If I had been a Wolf Knight, I would have served you as my captain.”
Kassel’s eyes widened. Jay, touching his wounded shoulder, continued,
“Maybe that’s the same reason the White Wolves did. I have no intention of becoming a knight, but I prefer a captain who cleans the blood off me when I return over one who orders me to spill it. So what I’m saying is, I prefer that. No, it’s not like… I like you or anything…”
As usual, when he spoke at length, it got confusing. And Kassel was not moved by such words.
“Jay. Are you preparing to die or something?”
Jay shook his head.
“I’m not dying! Do I look that weak to you?”
He drew his sword and extended it towards Kassel.
“Has there ever been anyone who has seen the teeth of the White Wolves and lived to tell the tale? I’ll be the first then.”
Even the eloquent couldn’t find words at this moment.
‘Wow, I finally won one.’
Jay immediately turned his head. Black was approaching, his armor clanking. The sound of hooves getting farther away could be heard. Black kept coming closer but did not throw his halberd to hit Kassel, who was running away.
‘Thank goodness. I wouldn’t have been confident blocking if he had thrown it.’
The bridge was wide enough to move freely but considering the reach of the opponent’s halberd, it wasn’t sufficient. Jay instinctively surveyed his surroundings and then gave up. His body didn’t seem like it would follow through properly anyway.
Strangely, even though he was prepared for death, he wasn’t very scared. On the contrary, his competitive spirit was flaring up.
An opponent that Irene feared and avoided.
The man who had strong followers like Billy and Suvel.
A knight who, as Kassel had said, seemed like a demon risen from death.
‘I guess dying to this guy wouldn’t be too shameful.’
Black said,
“Billy is in danger.”
It didn’t sound like mere speculation. He was genuinely worried about Billy, and his gaze seemed to reach far beyond Jay.
“There’s a familiar feeling about you. It was the same under the moonlit night when I first encountered you, and in the meadow when I saw you. At first, I didn’t know what it was, but now I understand.”
This was the first time Jay had heard Black’s voice up close. It was so commanding that an ordinary person would have had to bow their head upon hearing it.
“Who were you with before?
Jay immediately thought of Irine but said something else.
“Kassel Wolf.”
Black looked towards Kassel, who was still waiting at the end of the opposite bridge. It seemed that wasn’t the answer he was looking for. Nonetheless, Jay played dumb and stood still.
“And before that?”
“I was alone.”
“That’s a lie. Tell the truth.”
“Do I have to?”
Black extended his halberd. Its tip was now right in front of Jay’s nose. Jay didn’t flinch and glared back at Black’s helmet, showing off the sword he had taken from Billy.
Black warned again.
“I do not spare those who show hostility towards me. Answer.”
“Then ask my corpse.”
Jay thrust his sword like a snake climbing a tree, slipping beside the halberd thrust at him. However, the blade bounced off, unable to penetrate the armor. No matter how weak he was, he didn’t expect his sword to deflect so futilely.
‘He didn’t fail to block it; he chose not to. He knew I lacked strength.’
Black swung the handle of his halberd, striking down at Jay’s neck. Weakened, Jay’s knees buckled for a moment. If he hadn’t rolled aside with every ounce of his dying strength, the blade of the halberd would have been buried in his head. Instead, that heavy blade shattered the white floor like marble.
“I ask again. Who were you with?”
Black inquired.
Jay did not answer, gripping his sword with both hands instead of one. His shoulder ached as if it would fall off. He doubted he could swing it more than once. Where could he strike with that one chance to win?
Jay’s gaze settled on Black’s neck. Even for one who could not die, he couldn’t imagine surviving a strike there.
Unhurried, Black followed Jay’s movements and swung his halberd with a speed and timing no human could imitate. Jay lowered his stance so much that his face nearly touched the ground. The wind, making a chilling sound, grazed his hair.
Jay pressed his hand against the floor. Then, like a spring, he propelled himself into Black’s embrace, stabbing at his throat with his sword. For a moment, Black’s head, which should have been at the target, was nowhere to be seen. Jay thought his vision was blurred from blood loss, but he soon realized that Black had dodged by bending back and immediately swung his blade to the side. However, Black caught the blade in his palm.
Discarding his halberd, Black seized Jay by the collar. Jay struggled with all his might, shaking the hand holding the sword, but to no avail.
Jay dangled in the air, held by Black’s hand.
“Who was it? Who was with you?”
Jay dropped his sword and struck at his helmet with his palm. With each hit, the helmet creaked and wobbled to the side but soon returned to its place. Jay kicked at his side and twisted and gripped his wrist, but it was no use. Blood ran from his fist that had struck the iron mass.
Black, having parried all of Jay’s attacks with his armor, muttered softly.
“Answer me.”
“I can’t.”
“Answer me.”
“It’s not a name you would know.”
Black then punched Jay in the face. It felt like being hit by a sledgehammer. With that single blow, Jay’s arms dropped limply. Black lifted him even higher.
“Speak! Who was it?”
Blood streamed from Jay’s nose like water, dropping down. He couldn’t see well. He fumbled with his hand to grasp the opponent’s wrist and twisted with all his might. But this damned ghost of a knight seemed to have no joints to break, feeling like he was hanging from a massive lump of iron.
Jay stopped resisting. Even if was released, he had no strength left to stand. Then Black, looking at Jay’s face, quietly uttered the name Jay had concealed.
“Irine…”
Jay was not surprised. He wasn’t even curious how Black had found out the name. He merely looked with a powerless gaze at Kassel, who stood mounted at the end of the trail, his face too blurred to see properly. Kassel was shouting, but Jay couldn’t hear him. Only Black’s voice echoed dreamily.
‘You fool, why are you still there?’
Jay shouted inwardly, but Kassel remained fixed in place.
Black asked.
“You were with Irine, weren’t you? Weren’t you?”
Jay finally managed to speak up.
“Who the hell are you?”
“I don’t even know who I am. Tell me. Were you with her? Who is she? How could I know her name when I don’t even know my own? How could I know that you were with her?”
Black’s voice grew louder.
“Speak, Jaymer!”
Jay chuckled dryly.
“So you know my name too? You know everyone’s name but… you don’t know your own?”
Black hurled Jay away.
Jay screamed as he hit his back against the railing and rolled on the ground. He thought for sure he would pass out, but even after his face smashed into the floor, his mind was clear. It meant he had to endure the terrible pain consciously. The dark red blood flowing from his nose fell onto the white stone and seeped in without stopping.
Black picked up the halberd he had set down. Jay, with great difficulty, just lifted his head and looked up at Black. The large halberd slowly ascended towards the sky, like a guillotine falling upon a condemned man. Perhaps it only seemed slow to Jay.
“This death is not one I bestow upon you—it’s one you’ve brought upon yourself,” Black declared.
Unable to move, Jay retorted with a voice that held no hint of intimidation.
“Don’t flatter yourself, Black. If I were in proper shape, I wouldn’t have lost.”
“If that’s what galls you, then rise from death as well.”
Jay cast a final look towards Kassel. It wasn’t death he resented. He was just a bit sorry for not keeping the promise to survive for him.
‘I thought we’d be sharing stories by the campfire again tonight. Guess that won’t happen.’
At the edge of the bridge, Kassel, mounted on his horse, appeared double to Jay. At first, he thought his blurred vision was making him see double. But the bridge itself looked singular. And beside Kassel, mounted on a horse, was a man significantly larger than Kassel.
Was it Billy who had followed? Suvel? Or someone else?
Just then, a loud noise, like air escaping, sounded overhead. Jay thought it was the sound of the halberd falling. But the halberd remained suspended in the air. Soon, pushed by something invisible and silent, Black’s body twisted sideways, and the shoulder holding the halberd began to freeze over. Initially, the ice clung only to his shoulder, but it soon swelled up, enveloping the whole right side of Black’s upper body.
From the direction of the Gold Gate, a white light approached the bridge at a terrifying speed.
It was a wolf with silvery fur.
Jay’s mind, on the brink of unconsciousness, could not properly distinguish which of the simultaneous events had occurred first.
Black swung his frozen arm wide, and broken ice rained down upon Jay’s body.
The approaching wolf let out a mighty howl. A strong light beamed from its forehead. The heavy body of Black was suddenly lifted and hit the bridge’s railing. The railing, which seemed it wouldn’t budge even if a pile of stones fell on it, broke apart. But Black quickly got up and swung his halberd at the approaching wolf. The railing and pillars within the swing’s arc shattered.
The wolf leaped high, as if to jump onto Black, but its target was Jay. The massive wolf bit into Jay’s arm and dragged him back. Amidst it all, Jay inwardly cursed the pain.
“Put him on your horse.”
A new voice commanded. The wolf bit into Jay’s arm harshly enough to seem excessive. Then a large hand grasped his nape and yanked him up before roughly placing him onto the horse.
‘Take it easy with me, will you!’
Jay wanted to scream but no voice came out. It was difficult enough just to stay conscious.
“Kassel, just as we discussed earlier, let’s go!”
The burly man shouted.
“Understood.”
Kassel replied faithfully.
The man carrying Jay let out a vigorous yell and spurred his horse forward. Carried on the horse like a piece of luggage, Jay barely managed to open his eyes to look straight ahead. He assumed the man carrying him would naturally flee from Black, but instead, he was charging directly towards him.
‘Avoid it. You can’t collide head-on with this guy!’
Jay wanted to warn him, but it was too late; the distance had closed, and Black, grasping a halberd in both hands, drew it back over his shoulder. The massive iron mass, with enough force to smash rocks and split a man in two, flew in a semicircle towards the head of the man carrying Jay. At the same time, the man carrying Jay also swung his arm mightily, thrusting his spear forward.
A deafening sound spread around them. And Jay, bowing his head, had to close his eyes against the dazzling blue light that scattered in all directions.
The man carrying Jay took the halberd head-on and was pushed back but did not fall off his horse. Merely that was unbelievable enough for Jay; but what was more astonishing was that Black, who collided with the man’s spear, was also repelled.
‘Who is this guy?’
Turning his head, Jay saw Kassel and a wolf with silver fur following right behind him. They did not stop until they reached the place where the Golden Gate was.
Jay, on the shaking horse, continued to endure pain and vomited something mixed with blood. He couldn’t breathe properly because his stomach was pressed against the saddle.
“Open the gate!”
The castle walls, which had seemed to be made of white bricks earlier, were now shining golden. For a moment, Jay thought he was seeing things.
‘It must be time to die. Seeing hallucinations of stones shining like gold.’
A gatekeeper in the gatehouse shouted.
“The gate has been closed by order of Master Tanya of Lutia. State your identity.”
“I am Master Tanya. Please, open the gate.”
The voice was rough as if clogged with phlegm, but it was unmistakably that of a woman. Jay turned his head and, suddenly, where the wolf should have been, there stood a woman in a white robe. Although her face was not visible, the necklace with a blue bead she wore on her chest made him think she was a sorceress.
“And the people with you?”
The gatekeeper asked again.
“I am Sheyden of the Aranthia Wolf Knights. We have a patient, hurry and open the gate.”
The man carrying Jay spoke.
Soon, the gatekeeper, saying that they would proceed with the verification process inside, opened the gate. The iron gate, radiating golden light, opened with a majestic sound. All kinds of questions whirled through Jay’s mind, but he could not ask any of them as he lost consciousness.
–TL Notes–
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